About Lethrinus miniatus (Forster, 1801)
Lethrinus miniatus has a deep body, where its standard length measures between 2.4 and 2.8 times its body depth. The dorsal fin is supported by 10 spines and 9 soft rays, while the anal fin is supported by 3 spines and 8 soft rays. Body color ranges from silver to light greyish-brown, and the head has a reddish hue; sometimes the body shows 8 to 9 darker vertical bars. The base of the pectoral fin is bright red, and most fins range from pale to reddish, except the spiny sections of the dorsal and anal fins, which are bright red. A red streak often runs from the snout to the upper operculum. This species typically has reddish lips, and the center of each scale is usually dark. The maximum published total length for Lethrinus miniatus is 90 cm (35 in), though a total length of 40 cm (16 in) is more typical. Lethrinus miniatus is distributed across the Eastern Indian Ocean and Western Pacific Ocean. In Australia, its range extends from Cape Freycinet in Western Australia, north and east along the coast, reaching as far south as Sydney. It is also found around the Philippines, Ryukyu Islands, and New Caledonia. Adult Lethrinus miniatus stay on coral reefs during the day, and only rarely move into sand and rubble areas between coral patches to feed. At night, they leave the reef to hunt actively in areas with sandy substrates. Juveniles live in seagrass beds and mangroves, and prefer shallower coastal waters.
